Building block



April 9., 1940. QSLUND 2,196,937

BUILDING BLOCK Filed May 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Klffornqus April 9., 1940.

J. OSLUND BUILDING BLOCK Filed May 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mid Afiomeys g 0 m b y B m a j Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to building blocks and has for the primary object the provision of inexpensive, durable and inter-locking blocks which will be educational, as well as affording amusement to both old and young people in the construction of almost any kind of architectural design, such as, benches, chairs, buildings, bridges, etc, and which will snugly fit each other when assembled to assure strength and at the same time may be easily taken apart and rearranged.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view illustrating a building block constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, illustrating a pair of blocks with inter-locking connection with each other.

Figure 3 is a top plan view illustrating the block.

Figure 4 is an end view illustrating the block.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating three of the blocks of the type of block.

shown in Figure l, interlocked together.

Figure 6 is an end view showing a. plurality of blocks constructed in accordance with the showing of the block made in Figure 1 interlocked together.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral it indicates an elongated or oblong shaped block having a top face or wall H, end walls I2, side walls It and a bottom wall l4.

ifhe end walls l2 are provided with grooves l5 located in close proximity to the top and bottom walls ii and i4 and open outwardly through the side walls H3. The top wall H has a groove l6 extending longitudinally of the block and intermediate the side walls 53 and connecting with the grooves in the end walls 12.

The top and bottom walls II and [4 have formed therein dove-tail shaped grooves IT. The width of the grooves I"! is greatly increased over the width of the grooves l5 and IS. The grooves H are arranged transversely of the block with their ends opening outwardly through the side walls is. The grooves H in the bottom wall M are located directly under the grooves IT in the top wall II.

The block Ill described heretofore in detail and as shown in Figure 1 may be made of any material suitable for the purpose and which will be durable and capable of affording maximum strength. The block may be of solid formation or hollow should it be desired to have the block extremely light in weight still providing the necessary rigidity and strength desired.

In use, a number of blocks constructed in accordance with the showing made in Figure 1 and as heretofore described in detail are employed in conjunction with each other in the making of architectural designs, the various grooves permitting the blocks to be joined together with inter-locking connections between said blocks. Figures 5 and 6 only disclose some of the many ways in which the blocks may be assembled with inter'locking connection between the blocks. For instance, in Figure 5 a pair of blocks arranged in superimposed relation is shown joined by .a third block and held in spaced relation to each other, the ends of the three blocks having the grooves 55 thereof interfitted. In Figure 6 a plurality of blocks is shown wherein the grooves thereof fit one within the other and thereby establish interlocking connection between the blocks. As will be very apparent from the disclosure made in the drawings as well as from the foregoing description the assembling of the blocks with respect to each can be accomplished in many Ways, that is, the relation of the blocks to each other. Figure 2 discloses the superimposed relation of a pair of blocks with the dovetail shaped grooves being employed for establishing interlocking connection between said blocks. It will be apparent from Figures 1 and 2 that the dove-tail shaped grooves ll formed in the top and bottom faces or walls of the blocks provide therebetween on said top and bottom walls tenons, it being understood that the tenons of one block will snugly fit the dove-tail shaped grooves of another block.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings, will fully set forth the construction and advantages of the present invention to those skilled in the art to which such a device relates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

What is claimed is:

A building block comprising an oblong shaped body having top, bottom, end and side walls, said end walls having grooves with certain of said grooves paralleling each other and another groove intersecting therewith with the grooves opening outwardly through the top, bottom and side walls, said top and bottom walls having grooves provided with undercut walls arranged transversely of the body and providing therebetween in the top and bottom walls tenons, said top and bottom walls having grooves extending longitudinally of the body and connecting with the first-named grooves of the top and bottom walls and with certain of the grooves in said end walls and intersecting the other grooves of said end walls.

JOHN OSLUND. 

